The start of the year is always a powerful time to take inventory of what is and isn’t working optimally in your life — and to set intentions for improvement so you can live your best life.
Try this simple Life-Balance Wheel exercise and gain insights on areas of your life that are out of balance. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the wheel portion and roughly 20 minutes (give or take) to complete the journal prompts. Upon completion, you will be more aware of the areas of your life that are fulfilled, and areas which need a little more love. All you need is a piece of paper, something to write with and a ruler (or draw freehand) and having a sense of curiosity always also helps! If you are not great at drawing, here is a free printable download:
DIY Life Balance Wheel Instructions
Step 1 Draw a circle with eight even-sized slices
Step 2 Starting at the center, write out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 on one line. Make sure you start with 1 at the center of the circle and work your way out in even segments to 10. Reference the accompanying illustration.
Step 3 Label each section with these categories: Financial, Health, Spiritual/ Emotional, Fun/Recreation, Work/Career, Romance, Friends/Family and Physical Environment.
Step 4 Rate your satisfaction for each segment with one representing the lowest and 10 being the highest level of satisfaction in your life for a given slice. Example: If your physical well being is tip-top, you might shade-in that pie slice to a level 9 or 10. If it were a one or two, you’d shade in only up to those lower levels. Reference sample wheel above.
Insightful Journal Prompts
What did you notice from doing the wheel?
How satisfied are you with the different areas in your life right now?
Where are you in balance? Where are you out of balance?
What do you want to change?
How satisfied are you with your current state of balance?
What would a 10 in the area that is most important to you look like, sound like, feel like?
What actions could change one or more wedges of the wheel?
How would your life be different if you were to make a change that created more
balance?
Which wedge(s) is (are) too small?\
When this wedge is the right size, how does it enhance what is going on in the other wedges?
Want to dive deeper into specific areas of your life? Submit a request via the Contact page for balance wheels specific to leadership, work/career, health and wellness, relationships and more.
If you found this exercise useful, send an email and me know. Or, reach out to discuss life coaching sessions to help you further flesh out your insights and develop actionable steps for a healthier, more satisfied and more better-balanced life. And, be sure to share this free exercise with friends and family who might benefit!